Flash floods and landslides triggered by relentless rain wreaked havoc across Himachal Pradesh on Sunday, leaving more than 300 roads blocked, power lines down and water supply disrupted. The worst impact was felt in Mandi and Kullu districts, where highways were swept away, homes were damaged and farmlands submerged under debris brought by gushing streams.
In Mandi, flash floods struck Takoli, Panarsa and Nagwain within a short span of time, destroying stretches of the Chandigarh–Manali National Highway. Floodwaters surged into the fruit and grain market in Takoli, damaging stored stocks of vegetables and apples, a critical supply chain for regional trade. Local officials confirmed that debris, including boulders and uprooted trees, scattered across the highway, bringing traffic to a halt.
Nearby villages were hit with equal force. In Nagwain, floodwaters entered a government hospital before spreading onto the highway. Residents reported that the water, originating from a single mountain stream, diverted into multiple directions due to encroachments and unauthorised dumping along rivulets. Community leaders stressed that unchecked construction along nullahs has amplified the scale of destruction, calling for immediate action to clear encroachments and enforce sustainable zoning regulations. At Aut, several houses were swept away in the early hours of the morning. Residents barely escaped as the waters rose suddenly between 4 am and 4.30 am, leaving families with no time to salvage belongings. Officials noted that while no lives were lost, the psychological and economic toll remains immense, particularly for households dependent on agriculture and small-scale trade.
In Kullu district, flash floods in the Dohra nullah damaged homes and small shops, further straining communities already reeling from repeated monsoon disruptions. The Chandigarh–Manali highway also remained blocked near Pandoh dam and other key stretches, cutting off tourist traffic and supply routes vital to the hill economy. Even alternate roads such as the Mandi–Kamand–Kataula–Bajaura link were rendered unusable by mudslides. Data released by the State Disaster Management Authority highlighted that 361 roads remained blocked across Himachal on Sunday, with Mandi accounting for over half. Electricity networks too have suffered repeated breakdowns as transformers and distribution lines were damaged. Water scarcity has deepened in Kullu and Mandi, where more than 100 supply schemes have collapsed under the impact of debris and heavy runoff.
Experts underline that Himachal Pradesh is facing a recurring crisis driven by changing climate patterns and unsustainable development. Extreme rainfall events, once occasional, are becoming more frequent in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. Analysts caution that unless infrastructure is planned with climate resilience in mind, floods and landslides will continue to overwhelm communities, erode farmland and derail economic lifelines. The immediate challenge for authorities lies in restoring connectivity, power and water supply. Yet the long-term test will be to reconcile development with ecological balance, ensuring that highways, markets and settlements are built in harmony with mountain rivers and slopes. Without this shift, flash floods will remain a seasonal tragedy that extracts a high human and economic cost.
